...maybe if you're the one hosting the ICO but otherwise it's just gambling.
Well said. most of the ICOs will only makes the investors lose money. maybe except some large scale projects like Ethereum.
Well, there are opportunities sometimes, look at NXT, NEM, Synereo... all those ICOs delivered 100 to 1000% gains.
Yeah and what about the other 1000 failed scams?
That is why you should consider your ICO projects with caution, and even then don't trust 100% that it is honest.
It could be avoided if people admit what ICOs really are; gambling.
Giving money to an anon entity over the internet in exchange for promises has nothing to do with investing or even speculation, it's just a very basic and low form of gambling.